"I Was Shocked, Thought It Was a Corpse"...Astonishment Over Yam Strikingly Resembling a Human Hand

Yam Resembling a Human Hand Discovered in China

"Fully Possible Through Natural Growth Processes"

A yam resembling a human hand has been discovered in China, drawing significant public attention. As a photo of the yam spread across social networking services (SNS), many people commented that they initially mistook it for a human hand, and inquiries to purchase the yam reportedly followed.

A yam resembling a hand found in a field in Guangdong Province, China. MS NEWS

According to foreign media outlets such as the South China Morning Post (SCMP) and MustShareNews on March 25, a farmer surnamed A living in Guangdong Province, China, recently found a yam shaped like a human hand while harvesting yams in his field.

In the released photo, the yam’s root splits into five branches at the tip, making it look like fingers. One edge protrudes slightly, resembling a thumb, and the pointed ends look similar to fingernails.

As the photo spread through SNS, it sparked a variety of reactions among online users. Some commented, “At first, I thought it was a human hand and was startled,” and “I was creeped out thinking it might be part of a corpse.” Others said, “Its rare shape seems like a symbol of good luck.”

As rumors spread, people flocked to see the yam in person, and inquiries to purchase it continued. One person reportedly offered 8,000 yuan (about 1.74 million won) to buy it, but A declined the offer.

Experts explain that such a shape is not supernatural, but rather a phenomenon that can naturally occur during the growth process.

Yams are root vegetables that grow underground, and if their growth is affected by stones, hard soil, or surrounding plants, their roots can split into several branches. Through this process, they may sometimes take on shapes resembling human limbs.

It is known that even when the appearance changes in this way, there is little difference in taste or nutritional content.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.